SAND AND GRAVEL MOU
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING (MoU)
Version 3.0
Steady and adequate supply of Sand and Gravel
1. Purpose and scope of this MoU
1.1.
The purpose of this MoU is to establish a framework (outlining the roles and
responsibilities) of Somerset County Council (SCC) and other signatories to
this MoU with regard to fulfilling the Duty to Cooperate for the steady and
adequate supply of sand and gravel in Somerset over the period to 2030.
1.2.
The MoU is intended to enhance and formalise partnership working in:
•
•
•
•
1.3.
plan preparation;
evidence gathering;
recording and monitoring minerals issues; and
plan implementation.
Further information on SCC’s approach to the Duty to Cooperate can be found
in the SCC’s Duty to Cooperate Statement.
2. Background on sand and gravel: summary of evidence
Somerset (including Exmoor National Park), Devon and Cornwall
2.1.
Somerset currently has no land-won sand and gravel workings and superficial
deposits of sand and gravel in Somerset are generally limited.1
2.2.
The Lower Triassic Budleigh Salterton Pebble Beds form the bedrock in the
south western section of the county, crossing the Somerset / Devon border.
This formation is worked for sand and gravel at Hanson’s Whiteball operation
on the Somerset / Devon border (adjacent to Gipsy Lane, Greenham). The
Somerset Minerals Local Plan (adopted 2004) included a policy (M50) that
identified land at Whiteball as a Preferred area and an Area of Search for
sand and gravel extraction. A map showing these areas is included as Inset
Plan 6 in the Somerset Minerals Local Plan (adopted 2004).
2.3.
In recent years, virtually all extraction of sand and gravel for the Whiteball
operations has taken place in Devon (most recently from the Town Farm site)
for processing by facilities on the Somerset side of the border.
2.4.
The Town Farm site makes a significant contribution to Devon’s sand and
gravel production and landbank. It has planning permission until 25 June 2023.
The most recent planning application envisaged production at a scale of
200,000 tonnes per year for around 10 years, although recent output has been
at a lower level.
1
Information on the geology of Somerset is included in the Aggregates Topic Paper (available
via www.somerset.gov.uk/mineralsandwaste). For more detail refer to a report published by
the British Geological Survey entitled ‘Mineral Resource Information in support of National,
Regional and Local Planning: Somerset (2005)’.
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2.5.
Devon’s 1st Local Aggregate Assessment (February 2013) gives a weighted ten
year average sales figure for land-won sand and gravel of 610,000 tonnes.
2.6.
Furthermore, Devon’s 1st LAA states that the quantity of permitted reserves of
land-won sand and gravel at the end of 2011 was 9.16 million tonnes.
2.7.
Using Devon’s weighted ten year average provides a landbank of
approximately 15 years.2
2.8.
Cornwall’s Local Aggregate Assessment (March 2013) states that: “It is
acknowledged that there are limited resources of natural sand and gravel in
Cornwall and the county is unlikely to be able to contribute to the shared subregional apportionment from primary resources. As part of the Duty to Cooperate Devon County Council and Cornwall Council have agreed that “any
shortfall in the sub-regional apportionment would be met by Devon (and
potentially some contribution from Somerset), with no further contribution
from Cornwall”…” It is also noted that Cornwall has significant reserves of
secondary aggregates which can be substituted for primary material.
2.9.
Historically, Somerset has shared a joint sub-regional apportionment for sand
and gravel with Devon and Cornwall of 14.91 million tonnes. Covering the
period 2005-2020, this equated to an apportionment of 930,000 tonnes per
year.3 (NB: historically, sub-regional apportionment has also seen Exmoor
National Park grouped with Somerset.)
2.10.
In its Preferred Options document (2013) Somerset County Council stated
that: “The Council believes that it is appropriate to retain the Areas of Search
and Preferred Areas around Whiteball and to include a criteria-based
approach in its policy on sand and gravel, based on the following factors:
• the spread of opinion during consultation;
• historic and current cooperation with Devon County Council;
• there are sufficient reserves within the area of search and preferred area to
contribute to the required demand for land-won sand and gravel over the
plan period, which is to be planned for by Devon and Somerset together; and
• no additional areas of interest have been put forward by the minerals industry.”
Dorset
2.11.
The Bournemouth, Dorset and Poole Minerals Strategy has been found sound
following Examination and the Councils are moving to adopt it as soon as
possible. The Minerals Strategy commits to maintaining a landbank of sand
and gravel reserves equivalent to at least 7 years supply, based on a rolling
average of the previous 10 years of sales. For the period 2003 to 2012, this
equates to a figure of 1.57 mtpa.
2.12.
According to the 2009 Aggregate Minerals Survey, approximately 65% of
sand & gravel imports into Somerset come from Dorset (circa 290,000 tonnes
per year). A key resource is the River Terrace deposits which are worked at
the Chard Junction site in north west Dorset (4.5km south east of Chard).
2
The NPPF requires Mineral Planning Authorities to make provision for a landbank of
permitted reserves for a minimum of 7 years worth of supply for sand and gravel.
3
SW RAWP Annual Report 2009
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2.13.
The Chard Junction site (which has planning permission until 31 March 2023)
makes an important contribution to sand & gravel supply in Somerset; in
particular in the Yeovil area – which is a strategically significant town in South
Somerset - and other centres of future development such as the primary
market towns of Chard and Ilminster.
2.14.
The Chard Junction site lies in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB)
and the importance of protecting designated areas in Dorset is noted.
2.15.
Dorchester, which lies at the western edge of one of the two resource blocks
identified by Dorset County Council, is approximately 33km from Yeovil and
74 km from Taunton. The average road delivery distance for aggregates in
2011 was 43km.4
2.16.
If/when production ceases in the north west of Dorset, and if no further
permissions come forward in this north west area, it is likely that there will be
constraints (linked with the costs of minerals transportation and potentially
capacity of the road network) to exporting sand and gravel from the resource
blocks into Somerset. Such constraints will not prevent continued supply but
may result in exports into Somerset decreasing over the longer term.
Gloucestershire
2.17.
According to the 2009 Aggregate Minerals Survey, Gloucestershire supplies
≤ 40,000 tonnes of sand and gravel into Somerset. This equates to less than
5% of Gloucestershire’s output. This is unlikely to increase due to the high
costs of transportation.
Wiltshire
2.18.
According to the 2009 Aggregate Minerals Survey, Wiltshire supplies
≤ 20,000 tonnes of sand and gravel into Somerset. This is unlikely to increase
due to the high costs of transportation.
Other potential sources of sand and gravel
2.19.
Limestone sand can be produced from the processing of scalpings at crushed
rock quarries. This is an important source of such material in the eastern part
of Somerset.
2.20.
Marine-dredged sand and gravel landed at Dunball Wharf equates to roughly
5-10% of Somerset’s sand and gravel consumption. A comparison of actual
and licensed dredging rates suggest there may be scope to increase the level
of dredging in the Bristol Channel if necessary; however, there are logistical
constraints to consider (in particular linked with use of Dunball Wharf,
weather and tides) which affect the potential to increase the county’s
dependence on marine-dredged aggregates.
4
Minerals Products Association: Summary Sustainable Development Report 2011
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3. Joint approach
3.1.
It is agreed that:
•
Due to its historic arrangements and limited sand and gravel resources,
Somerset does not currently maintain its own landbank of permitted reserves
for sand and gravel and has not extracted sand and gravel during the past 10
years (or at most very minor quantities).
•
As a result, Somerset does not have a 10 year average that can inform any
potential future provision. However, Somerset County Council intends to
maintain provision for future working of sand and gravel from within
Somerset to supply the Whiteball operation following the anticipated
cessation of the Town Farm site within Devon in the early 2020s.
•
To maintain sub-regional supply (contributing to Devon’s existing landbank
for sand and gravel and maintaining production at Whiteball) Somerset
County Council proposes to extend the approach established in the Minerals
Plan (adopted 2004) which outlines a Preferred Area and Area of Search
adjacent to Gipsy lane, Greenham (see map below), and use a criteria-based
approach to consider proposals elsewhere in Somerset. This preferred
approach was made clear in the Preferred Options consultation carried out by
Somerset County Council in 2012/13.
•
The Chard Junction site on the Somerset / Dorset border makes an important
contribution to sub-regional supply, which is expected to continue also until
the early 2020s.
•
Somerset County Council and Dorset County Council will continue to cooperate on cross-boundary mineral interests, including on-going monitoring,
whereby the reciprocal supply of minerals is considered fully in emerging
plans5. The Bournemouth, Dorset and Poole Minerals Strategy has taken
account of mineral exportation and importation (including movements
between Dorset and Somerset) in identifying mineral needs to 2028 and,
once adopted, it will set the strategic context for the emerging Bournemouth,
Dorset and Poole Mineral Sites Plan.
•
Exports of relatively small quantities of sand and gravel from Gloucestershire
and Wiltshire into Somerset are anticipated to continue during the plan period.
5
Somerset is a major supplier of crushed rock to Dorset, while Dorset exports sand
and gravel to Somerset.
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Preferred Area and Area of Search adjacent to Gipsy Lane, Greenham, Somerset
3.2.
The MoU shall be reviewed by the signatories as/when required to ensure
that it remains fit for purpose. It is expected that the MoU will remain in place
until at least the adoption of all relevant Local Plan documents covering
Somerset, Cornwall, Devon and Exmoor National Park.
4. Somerset County Council’s specific responsibilities under this MoU
4.1.
As Mineral Planning Authority for Somerset, Somerset County Council has
undertaken and will continue to undertake to cooperate with all other
signatories of this MoU in the preparation and delivery of the Somerset
Minerals Plan by:
•
notifying signatories at each consultation stage in the preparation of its local
development documents and plans relevant to its statutory functions; and if
appropriate, meet and discuss any issues raised by one or more of the other
Local Authorities and take into account any views expressed on those issues;
•
meeting with signatories as required to monitor the preparation and
implementation of minerals policy and strategy across Somerset; and review
work undertaken jointly by parties signed up to the MoU;
•
co-operating with signatories in the preparation of the annual Somerset Local
Aggregate Assessment, including related dialogue with members of the South
West Aggregate Working Party (SW AWP);
•
liaising with Taunton Deane Borough Council and Mid Devon District Council
as required with regard to the availability of land in the Preferred Area and
Area of Search covered in the Somerset Minerals Plan; and
•
co-operating with relevant professional organisations, in particular the British
Geological Survey and the Department for Communities and Local
Government (DCLG) and, as required, the relevant Local Economic
Partnership(s).
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5. General responsibilities of other signatories under this MoU
5.1.
As signatory to this MoU, all partners will undertake to cooperate with other
signatories of this MoU in the preparation and delivery of the Somerset
Minerals Plan. In particular, this will entail:
•
responding to each consultation stage in the preparation of Somerset’s local
development documents and plans (also including the Somerset Local
Aggregate Assessment) relevant to Somerset County Council’s statutory
functions; and if appropriate, meet and discuss any issues raised by one or
more of the other signatories;
•
meeting with other signatories as required to monitor the preparation and
implementation of minerals policy and strategy across Somerset; and review
work undertaken jointly by parties signed up to the MoU; and
•
informing Somerset County Council should there be any substantive change
in respective positions summarised in the background evidence on sand and
gravel (section 2 of this MoU).
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6. Effective date and signature
Cornwall Council
Signed by:
P. /LA.__
Date:
SAND AND GRAVEL
MoU
Devon County Council
Signed
by~~
Date:
11th
March 2014
Name: Dave Black
Position: Head of Planning, Transportation & Environment
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Dorset County Council
Signed by:
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Date:
Position:
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Exmoor National Park Authority_
Signed by:
Date:
Position:
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SAND AND GRAVEL MOU
Gloucestershire County Council
Signed by:
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Date: 04.02.2014
Position: Lead Commissioner- Strategic Infrastructure
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SAND AND GRAVEL MOU
Wiltshire County Council
Signed by:
Georgina Clampitt-Dix
Position:
Head of Service, Spatial Planning
Economic Development & Planning
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Date: 9 June 2014